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      Chelsea fear N’Golo Kante has suffered ANOTHER injury blow as Graham Potter says midfielder ‘had a reaction in training’

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      GRAHAM POTTER has revealed his fear that N’Golo Kante has suffered another injury setback.Chelsea are preparing to face AC Milan at the San Siro in the Champions League on Tuesday.
      FILE – Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Chelsea and Burnley at the Stamford Bridge stadium in London, Nov. 6, 2021. Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante has suffered a fresh setback in his fight to shake off his latest hamstring injury. The France midfielder did not travel to Italy on […]Credit: AP
      N’Golo Kante has suffered a fresh injury blow at ChelseaCredit: Reuters
      However, the Blues will still be without their 31-year-old French World Cup winning midfielder.
      Kante last played in mid-August after suffering a hamstring injury but Potter was hoping to have the star back soon.
      However, he has now revealed that the ace broke down in training and that Chelsea’s medical team are now awaiting the test result to determine the damage.
      Potter said: “N’Golo, we are just waiting — he has had a reaction in training so we are just waiting on the news from that.
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      “It’s certainly not ideal and it’s disappointing for him and for us. We have to wait and see the extent of it and go from there.”
      Meanwhile, a fresh report has claimed that Kante does NOT want to leave Chelsea next summer.
      He is available on a free transfer in 2023 when his Blues contract expires.
      Negotiations have stalled between Kante and the West Londoners over the length of a potential extension.
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      The 31-year-old wants a three to four year deal comparable to the one given to new signing Kalidou Koulibaly over the summer.
      But, wary of his injury record in recent seasons, Chelsea only want to commit to a two-year deal.
      Kante is happy living in London and has even reportedly been offered to Arsenal and Tottenham by his representatives.
      But according to French outlet Le10 Sport, his preference would be to stay at Chelsea. More

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      Chelsea star N’Golo Kante is football’s Mr Nice, while boasting a £25m fortune and being one of the richest

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      N’GOLO KANTE is a regular among football’s most popular players and broke into the Sunday Times Young Sport Rich List.The Chelsea and France midfielder has amassed an impressive fortune of £25million but he is well-known as a humble, down-to-earth figure off the pitch.
      The much-loved midfielder is a regular for FranceCredit: Getty
      Kante has enjoyed a rapid rise from his early days playing in the French second-tierCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Despite his wealth, Kante still drops by local mosques to pray and hang out with fans and even shows up at a supporter’s wedding.
      Even on the pitch, his sparkling attitude comes across when deliberately refusing to punish teammates in a fun training game and memorably being too shy to hold the World Cup.
      It is clear his humble mantra spills over into his finances too with Kante saving more than a few pennies by driving a Mini rather than a supercar.
      And it isn’t hard to see how the Frenchman made it to seventh in the Sunday Times ‘Young Sportsmen’ Rich List, for athletes aged under 30 in 2020.
      After signing a new Chelsea contract in November 2018, he is thought to have doubled his pre-tax wages from £150,000-a-week to £300,000-a-week.
      The Blues also paid out handsomely after Kante helped Antonio Conte’s side win the 2016/17 Premier League title.
      A £5m fund was reportedly set up by Roman Abramovich to reward the squad, weighting bonuses towards those who made the most appearances – such as Kante and his 35 matches.
      A similar prize of around £250,000 was mooted for every member of France’s World Cup-winning squad in 2018 and no doubt he will have received another tidy bonus after helping Chelsea beat Manchester City in the Champions League final in 2021.

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      However Leicester’s title run of 2016 came so unexpectedly that no cash bonus was set aside for Kante and Co – leaving them to share a £6.5m pot between them for simply finishing above 12th.
      Of course, the Foxes got plenty of other perks and the midfielder would cash in by heading to Stamford Bridge the following summer.
      In 2020, he agreed a fresh deal to remain a brand ambassador for German sports clothing giant Adidas. More

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      Steven Gerrard ‘flirted’ with Chelsea transfer and believed Rafa Benitez would take £37.5m fee to rebuild Liverpool

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      STEVEN GERRARD feared Rafa Benitez wanted to sell him to Chelsea and use the £37.5million transfer fee to rebuild Liverpool.The Londoners made several attempts to lure Gerrard to Stamford Bridge in the 04-05 season but the midfielder eventually extended his contract with the Reds six weeks after lifting the Champions League trophy in 2005.
      Steven Gerrard was linked with a switch the Blues in the 04-05 season
      Gerrard has since reflected on the transfer saga and admitted he regrets toying with the idea of a switch to Stamford Bridge but was very tempted by the offer.
      He told Gary Neville on Sky Sports Soccer Box in June 2020: “I regret the little bit of flirting back then and how that all blew up.
      “The fact is I didn’t know whether I was coming or going with Rafa at the time. Rafa was having conversations with me like ‘I know your agent is talking to Real Madrid and Chelsea’.

      “I got a paranoid feeling at the time that Rafa would have taken money to try and build Liverpool on.
      “Chelsea bid £37.5m. At the time, massive amounts of dough but what would you get for that now?”
      Neville joked: “Half a Fred!”
      Gerrard continued: “[Jose] Mourinho was a massive part of that. A lack of maturity on my part allowed me to think about it and flirt with that idea a bit.
      “But now I have no regrets at all because Liverpool are the club I love – and that’s the way it should be.”
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      Gerrard went on to earn legendary status at Liverpool and never played for any other club in Europe – he only left the Reds to spend 18 months at LA Galaxy before his retirement in 2016.
      Chelsea in that time won both European competitions and triumphed in the Premier League five times.
      While Gerrard finished his playing career with a Champions League, Uefa Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups. More

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      Conor Gallagher is Chelsea’s hero, scoring off the bench, as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang nets his first goal for the Blues

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      CHELSEA left it late to see off Crystal Palace.Former Eagles loan star Conor Gallagher provided the difference, scoring an absolute belter for his first goal for the Blues in the 90th minute.
      Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher was the hero late on for the BluesCredit: AFP
      It looked like the two sides were headed for a point each, before Gallagher’s fantastic strike.
      Chelsea enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and snatched it at the death.
      Here’s how SunSport rated Graham Potter’s men.
      Kepa Arrizabalaga – 6
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      No chance with Odsonne Édouard’s goal on his return to the side.
      Showed decent moments collecting the ball and his distribution was sound.
      Saved well from Wilfried Zaha in the second half.
      Reece James – 7
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      Making a big claim to be England’s first choice right-back.
      Difficult to pick up with those marauding runs – and assisted Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goal.
      Also provided a great cross to Raheem Sterling in the first half, who hit the post.
      Wesley Fofana – 5
      Still struggling to adapt to life at Stamford Bridge.
      Gave away a careless pass to Wilfried Zaha in the first half, that could have cost his side.
      Looks short of a yard of pace.
      Thiago Silva – 6
      Silva was, perhaps, fortunate to stay on in the first half after handling the ball.
      Ref gave him the benefit of the doubt with a yellow card, which on another day might have been red.
      Seems to be missing a defensive partner since Antonio Rudiger left.
      Thiago Silva was lucky to get away with just a yellow cardCredit: https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1576219407252324353
      Ben Chilwell – 6
      Comfortable in possession, but didn’t offer as much of an attacking threat as he usually does.
      Although, faced with Michael Olise and Jordan Ayew, he did well defensively.
      No thrills performance.
      Jorginho – 6
      Not his best performance in a Blues shirt and was hooked 10 minutes into the second half.
      In the first half, Jorginho was sloppy in possession and uncharacteristically gave the ball away.
      Off day for the Italian international.
      Mateo Kovacic – 6
      Played it simple for Chelsea.
      But his forward passing lacked a bit of punch and he is seemingly struggling for form and confidence this term.
      On this evidence, might be lucky to keep his place in the team with Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek knocking on the door.
      Mason Mount – 6
      Tried but toiled.
      Showing signs that he is struggling in a system where he isn’t playing as a No10.
      Was booked in the second half for his troubles, and a few stray crosses show he isn’t suited to playing slightly wide.
      Mason Mount cut a frustrated figure at Selhurst ParkCredit: AP
      Raheem Sterling – 6
      England winger struck the woodwork in the first half and looked a threat when he was on the ball.
      Drifted in and out of the game, though, and didn’t quite assert himself on it.
      Chelsea need to find a way of utilising his ability and finding him with some runs behind the defence.
      Kai Havertz – 6
      The German was Chelsea’s link man, and combined well with strike partner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      Spurned a decent chance in the second half, when Mount produced a lovely reverse pass.
      His finishing wasn’t quite up to scratch like it was at Wembley the other day.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 7
      Scored his first of what might be many, judging by the way he took his goal.
      Controlling the ball on his chest, Aubameyang impressively fired a volley home in the first half to bring the scores level.
      Also dropped deep and linked up well with Havertz and Sterling.
      Certainly offers the Blues a focal point up front.
      Chelsea’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring his side’s first goalCredit: Getty
      Subs:
      Ruben Loftus-cheek – 6 (On for Jorginho, 54)
      Came on and tried to push Chelsea forward with a few decent balls.
      Conor Gallagher – 6 (On for Kai Havertz, 73
      Former Palace man got a rapturous cheer from the home faithful when he came on.
      The scored an absolute screamer for his first Chelsea goal.
      Armando Broja – 5 (On for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 73)
      Didn’t get the service he needed to thrive, and couldn’t provide a threat. More

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      Chelsea legend John Terry’s dad was furious he snubbed Man Utd for Blues and refused to join him as he signed first deal

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      JOHN TERRY once revealed his dad was so furious he snubbed Manchester United for Chelsea that he refused to join him on the pitch as he signed his first contract.Terry, who had been playing for West Ham at youth level up until the age of 14, had the choice of joining the Blues, United or Arsenal.
      Jonh Terry’s dad was so furious he snubbed Man Utd for Chelsea he refused to join his son on the pitch as he signed his first contract
      Terry won five Premier League titles before leaving Chelsea in 2017Credit: PA:Press Association
      But after falling in love with Chelsea, the legendary defender defied his dad’s wishes and refused a United contract.
      And the former Aston Villa assistant manager Terry told the Footballer’s Guide to Football podcast in June 2020: “My dad never wanted me to sign for Chelsea.
      “Actually, on the pitch of me signing my schoolboy form at the club, my dad refused to go on the pitch with me.
      “I’m in the tunnel, the players are coming off the pitch and I’m waiting in the tunnel, Glenn Hoddle goes past and my dad’s going, ‘You’re not signing for this football club, we should sign for Man United’.
      “Again, me being me at the time I’m going, ‘I’m 100 per cent I’m signing here, if you don’t come out with me I’m going out to sign’.
      “And you needed a parent, so my mum said she would come and sign it with me, my dad’s going mad at my mum, ‘No you wont’.
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      “There’s a picture of my mum and Graham Rix signing my contract, but my dad refused and absolutely kicked off that night. Again, me being the character I was, I knew Chelsea was right for me.
      “One night that was probably supposed to be one of the best nights of my life turned out to be a tough one for a young 14-year-old to be honest.”
      Terry’s instinct to sign for Chelsea paid off, as he went on to win five Premier League titles and FA Cup’s as well as lifting the Champions League in 2012 before leaving the club in 2017.
      But the legendary centre-back revealed he did come close to joining rivals United, and even visited the club several times over a year with David Beckham.
      Terry said: “I actually went up to Man United for a year, so I was kind of travelling up in school holidays, I went up with David Beckham when he signed his first pro contract.
      “We went up in the car together, I was there on a two-week training camp.
      My dad never wanted me to sign for Chelsea. Actually, on the pitch of me signing my schoolboy form at the club, my dad refused to go on the pitch with me.John Terry

      “I went up, stayed up for a couple weeks every school holiday really on my own, which was tough to be fair, being away from home.
      “Then I had the option between Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United and to be fair all of them went above and beyond.
      “The moment I walked into Chelsea, it just felt right, I know that’s going to sound really bizarre.” More

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      ‘Did he really say it?’ – Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp slams Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s Premier League All-Star game plans

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      LIVERPOOL boss Jurgen Klopp has slammed Todd Boehly after the new Chelsea owner suggested plans for a Premier League All-Star game.American businessman Boehly knows all about money-spinning matches from his homeland.
      Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has blasted the concept of a Premier League All-Stars gameCredit: PA
      Chelsea owner Todd Boehly reckons the match could raise lots of money for the football pyramidCredit: Reuters
      The NBA have long hosted an annual match between the East and West Conference sides.
      Boehly, who also co-owns baseball side the LA Dodgers, told the SALT conference that MLB’s latest All-Star game generated over £170million.
      And a Premier League clash of North vs South could generate similar revenue to help boost the football pyramid.
      Boehly said: “People are talking about why don’t we have more money for the Pyramid?
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      “MLB did their All-Star game this year. They made $200m from a Monday and a Tuesday.
      “You could do a North vs South All-Star game from the Premier League to fund the Pyramid very easily.”

      But Liverpool’s Klopp made it clear that he is not a fan of the idea.
      He scoffed at the mere suggestion of an All-Star game due to the lack of breaks Premier League footballers get.
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      And Klopp also claimed the general public would not be fans of watching such an event.
      He said: “Great. When he finds a date he can call me.
      “He forgets that in the big sports in America these players have four month breaks.
      “They’re quite happy they can do a little bit of sports in these breaks, it’s completely different to football.
      “What can I say? Does he want to bring the Harlem Globetrotters as well, and let them play against a football team?
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      “I’m not sure people want to see that. United, Liverpool, City, Everton players all together.
      “It’s not the national team. Did he really say it?” More

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      Chelsea boss Graham Potter’s inner circle, from wife Rachel who has a pilates business to loyal assistant Billy Reid

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      GRAHAM POTTER is the new manager of Chelsea.The English boss, 47, has taken over the reigns from sacked Thomas Tuchel, following successful talks with the club’s owner Todd Boehly.
      Graham Potter is the new man at Chelsea – and has a backroom team to support him
      In the past, Potter has been a hit coaching Swedish minnows Ostersund, Swansea and most recently Brighton.
      During that period, he has developed his own inner circle of people he considers confidantes.
      From his wife who runs a pilates business to assistant manager Billy Reid, these are who he trusts the most as he takes control at Stamford Bridge.
      Billy Reid
      Making the move to Stamford Bridge with Potter, like he has at Ostersund, Swansea and Brighton, is the ex-Hamilton Academical boss.
      Reid has been Potter’s trusted assistant – a man he can lean on for advice in training sessions and during games, as well as encourage to perform ballet Swan Lake with his players.
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      He was a No1 for eight years in Scotland, before opting to be Potter’s No2.
      Of Potter, Reid has said: “He lets me get on with my job. He is easy going, with a temper. When he turns he turns and the players will know that.
      Brighton assistant manager Billy Reid has joined Potter at Stamford Bridge
      “He is very clear in his mind of the idea he puts across to his players. That’s why he’s had the success he’s had and he knows how to delegate really well.”
      Bjorn Hamberg
      When he was just 20, Hamberg showed his love of football by setting up his own team, BK Bjorner with pals.
      Before he got his break at Ostersund, the Swede was a supermarket manager.
      But at 26 he’s been with Potter – focusing mostly on match analysis.
      He too has made the move to the Blues.
      Bjorn Hamberg worked at a supermarket until he got his break under Potter
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      Kyle Macaulay
      Recruitment analyst Macaulay has also joined Potter’s Chelsea revolution.
      He has been credited with finding gems at Brighton, from Yves Bissouma to Moises Caicedo.
      Macaulay will be tasked with looking at the current squad and drawing a list of potential targets to correct any weaknesses.
      Any potential talents that could be sold on for profit would also be part of his remit.
      Kyle Macaulay, right, has been Potter’s talent spotter through the years
      Rachel Potter
      Potter is married to Rachel, a Pilates enthusiast and the mother of his three children.
      They began dating when he was a player in the 1990s.
      She has her own successful business and has been the football manager’s rock through the years.
      In fact, Rachel ditched her first business in the UK to start all over in Sweden when he landed the Ostersund job in 2011.
      Rachel Potter is a Pilate enthusiastCredit: Instagram
      Ben Roberts
      A former Middlesbrough favourite, Roberts will be joining Chelsea as a goalkeeping coach.
      In fact, he was in goal for Boro when Roberto di Matteo scored for Chelsea after just 43 seconds in the 1997 FA Cup final
      He holds a degree in sports science and coaching and worked with Potter at Brighton from 2015.
      Most notably, he helped the careers of Matt Ryan and now Robert Sanchez blossom.
      Could be just the tonic Edouard Mendy needs to regain his form and confidence.
      Ex-Middlesbrough keeper Ben Roberts will be joining the Blues as keeper coach
      Ben Roberts conceded one of the most famous goals in Chelsea historyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Bruno Saltor Grau
      Known simply as Bruno, the Spanish coach had an impressive career in LaLiga – playing right back for Espanyol, Almeria and Valencia.
      He also played over 200 games for Brighton – so was a firm fans’ favourite.
      In 2019, he became senior player development coach with the Seagulls.
      He once told Sky Sports: “I never thought I was going to get into coaching this quickly,.
      “The manager’s leadership is amazing as he allows every one of us the freedom to contribute whatever knowledge and experience we have.”
      Coach Bruno has praised boss Potter and his approach
      John Morris
      The man at the centre of Potter’s negotiations with Chelsea and Brighton is Morris.
      An agent for Wasserman, he famously also has Jamie Vardy, Brendan Rodgers, Tyrone Mings, and many more as clients.
      He began working with fellow Solihull-born Potter in 2017, after flying to Sweden to meet him.
      Instantly, he understood his qualities as a coach and has beaten his drum for top jobs in the Premier League ever since.
      John Morris is Potter’s longstanding agent More

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      How Chelsea’s No1 manager target Graham Potter’s Masters in Emotional Intelligence has helped him reach the top

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      GRAHAM POTTER is ready to win over the Chelsea dressing room when he is officially confirmed as Thomas Tuchel’s successor.That’s because the outgoing Brighton boss has reached the top of his game using a Masters’ degree in Emotional Intelligence.
      Graham Potter has reached the top using a Masters degree in Emotional IntelligenceCredit: Getty
      The 47-year-old tactician worked his socks off to become an elite manager, developing his trade with Hull University, the Ghana women’s team and the England Universities Squad.
      Potter then became an assistant coach at Leeds Met Uni, where he picked up an impressive degree in Leadership and Emotional Intelligence.
      Potter’s managerial career kicked off soon afterwards, landing a role with Swedish side Ostersund before making the leap with Swansea City.
      He then got the Brighton job in 2019, and their transformation since has been nothing short of remarkable.
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      Potter is now on the cusp of becoming Chelsea’s second English manager since Glenn Hoddle.
      And his personal approach to the game could see Potter transform the Blues back into genuine title contenders.
      He told Sky: “I realised my time as a footballer was coming to an end and I wanted to use those experiences somehow, whether it was a teaching qualification or whatever.
      “But I started to study and it just happened by accident almost, I ended up with my job at the University of Hull, which was a graduate position job but it was in football.
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      “Then I carried on working with the teams there and realised, ‘I’m quite good at this, I can see myself doing this a bit more’.
      “It just grew and grew. The more I had practice the more I had experience.
      “[My masters] was a leadership qualification and that seemed to be interesting to me.
      “I’d done my qualifications as a coach and I was at Leeds Met, I had time and the cohort were surgeons and the British military.
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      “You simplify it, it’s just man management, building an environment, understanding how the environment can help you shape behaviour, how people act.
      “It sounds quite common sense but it’s often not common practice and that’s the beauty of it.” More